Can closing tool



Feb. 11, 1958 c, M, s s, JR 2,822,774

CAN CLOSING TOOL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1955 I \A-r-romnvf Feb. 11, 1958 c. M. STEARNS, JR 2,322,774

CAN CLOSING TOOL Filed Jan. 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O CAN CLOSING TOOL Charles M. Steams, Jr., Harrington, 111., assignor to Grotnes Machine Works, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 11, 1955, Serial No. 481,129

4 Claims. (Cl. 113-18) The present invention relates to can closing tools and the like for sealing or crimping the flange of a lid into retaining conformity with a bead surrounding the edge of a can. More particularly, the invention pertains to improvements in can closing tools of the type having manually operable handles movable between first and second positions to open and close crimping jaws.

One exemplary form of a can closing tool of the foregoing type is disclosed and claimed in Grotnes Patent No. 2,017,495. The Grotnes device includes a plurality of crimping levers which are operatively connected to be closed around or opened from engagement with a lid flangeby movement of a pair of operating handles. The handles are pushed downward to crimp the lid flange around the can bead, and then raised to release the crimping jaws from the sealed lid and can. The tool may then be lifted free of the can and employed successively to seal a number of cans. I

Experience has shown that when the tool operator is tired or careless, it may happen that the handles are not pushed home so that the crimping jaws do not create a firm sealing engagement of the closure flange around the can bead. There is often no way of telling merely from inspecting the closed can whether the lid flangehas been fullycrimped; and the operator may only be sure that he is adequately sealing each can by exerting all his strength in pushing downwardly on the handles.

It is the general aim of the invention to obviate such difiiculties and to provide a novel and improved can closing tool which positively assures that the crimping jaws are fully closed during each sealing operation.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved can closing tool which, after the crimping action has begun, cannot be removed from the can until the operating handles are shifted to completely close the crimping jaws. If the lid flange is not adequately crimped, therefore, the operator must exert a greater force on the handles to shift them to their fullcrimp position before the tool can be removed from the can.

Another object of the invention is to'provide such a can closing tool in which the operator need not exert his entire strength in sealing each one of a number of cans. He need only exert the estimated force required; if it is then possible to remove the tool from the can the seal is complete, but if the tool will not disengage, the operator is apprised of the fact that a greater'force on the handles is necessary to complete the crimping operation. It is a further object of the invention to provide a can closing tool having an operating handle movable between' first and second positions to release or'close crimping jaws, and which is characterized by one-way ratchet means which prevent the handles from being moved to their releasing position until they have first been shifted to their' 2 permit the latter to be returned to its releasing position so that the tool may be removed from a closed can.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is. a fragmentary elevation, partially in section, of an improved can closing tool embodying the features of the invention; v

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section. taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig; 1 V 1 Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 and illustrating the relationship of cooperating parts at the beginning of a work cycle, that is, with the crimping jaws open, certain parts being omitted for clarity;

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the tool after crimping has been initiated and the operating handles have been moved partially through their working stroke;

Fig. 5 is similar to'Fig. 4 but illustrating the tool at the completion of its work stroke, i. e., when the crimping jaws are fully closed;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation, partially in section,

of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6 illustrating the relative positions of the cooperatingparts when the crimping jaws are fully closed;- and Fig. 8 is a plan view of t heisecond embodiment shown in Fig. 6. j 7

Although the invention has been shown and is described Referring now to the drawings, the exemplary can closing tool 10 constructed in accordance with the invention has been shown as employed in sealing a lid 11 on a can 12 (Fig. l). The can 12 has at its upper edge a rolled or otherwise suitably formedbead 14 around which a .deformable flange 15 on the lid is to be crimped in sealing relation. Preferably, the flange 15 is serrated to facilitate this crimping deformation.

For eflecting such sealing of the lid 1 1 to the can 12, the tool 10 comprises a base 16 adapted torest on the lid 11 and extending peripherally beyond the lid and can to pivotallysupport a plurality of circumferentially spaced crimping levers 18. The latter are pivoted to the base '16 as at 19 and include a depending portion constituting a jaw 20 which is disposed toengage and crimp the flange 15 when rocked inwardly. During this operation an annular, axial projection 16aon the base 16 provides a backing or stationary die to prevent deformation of the can 12.

For imparting such crimping movement to the levers 18, that is, to open and close the jaws 20, one or more handles 21 (in this instance two) are pivotally carried in a housing or suppo'rt'22 fixed to the top of an upright standard 24 which is supported at its lower endin a boss on the base 16. In this instance the handles 21 are fast on the corresponding' ones of shafts 25 and 25a which, are journaled for rofation in spaced side walls of the support22. p F

' In order that upward and downward movement of the handles 21 may produce opening and closing of the jaws 20, a collar 26 is reciprocally disposed on the standard 24 and connected at its top bya plurality of pivoted links 28 with respective ones-ofthe handles. As shown in Fig. 1, the handles have integral apertured lugs 21a spaced outwardly from thejshafts 25 and 25a for pivotally re-' ceiving the upper ends of the links 28. Additionally,

rimm d eb. 1 1 ess standard24 toswing the crimping levers 18 about the pivots 19 and thus open. and close thefljawsi'20 with. respect to the lid flange '15 andthe bead114. -In.a.first or uppermost position ofthe handles 21 (Fig. 1) thejaws 20 are completely. open, while. movement. of .the handles downwardly to a second or. lowermost position (Fig. serves to close completely the 'jaws 20 and to effect a re liable seal between the flange 15.and the. can bead 14.

In accomplishing the objects of the invention, provision is made to preventmovement of the handles 21 inan'upward direction, he, toward their first-positions, once closing of the jaws -20has been initiated, until the handles are first rocked fully to their second (lower) positions. Thus, once the jaws have been partially closed they cannot be opened, nor can the tool be removed from the can, until the closure of the jaws is complete. Such provision is herelmade by latch means herein shown as a one-way ratchet mechanism operative on each oflthe handles 21. In order to permit return of the handles to their first positions and thus permit opening of the jaws, means are provided to disable the ratchet mechanism when and only when the handles have been rocked to their lowermost positions,- such disablementbeing continued by a lock-out mechanism as the handles are raised to their uppermost positions. 2 In order that the ratchet mechanism is again rendered operative for another closing operation on the next can, additional means are provided to shift the lock-out means as an incident to the handles reaching their uppermost position, thereby'efiecting reengagement of the ratchet parts.

. Since inthe illustrated embodiments the-novel mechanismsassociated with each of the two handles 21 are identical and such mechanisms are disposed in the support 22, a description of the mechanism for one handle will suffice for both.

- As here illustrated in Figs. 1-5, the handles 21 are prelycarried by the 'opposite'shaft 25a, such pawlhaving a tooth 31a. The pawl 31 is biased in this .instance by a torsion spring 32 so that thetooth 31a is broughttinto oneway locking engagementwith theteeth 30a. Itwill be apparent from'Fig. 3 that the handle 21. audits-shaft 25 maybe rocked downwardly (clockwise) with the pawl tooth 31a slipping successivelytfrom one of the teeth 30a to the next. With the pawl engaged. as shown, however, the handle 21 audits shaft 25 cannot be rockedupwardly (clockwise) sincethe-toothf 31 engaged between any pair of the teeth 30a effectively blocks such movement.

For the purpose ofdisablingthe ratchet mechanism, means are provided to shift the pawl 31, against the force of its biasing spring 32, free of the ratchet segment 30 as an incident to the. handle 21 reaching its lowermost or full-crimp position. Thisfunction is conveniently accomplished in the preferred embodiment by a projection-34 fast on the shaft 25 anddisposed so as to contact a lower surface 31!] on-the pawl when the handle has reached its lower position (Fig. 5). The. projection 34 as here shown may be a pin which serves. the dual purpose of locking the ratchet segment 30 on the shaft 25.

. In .order to permit return of.-thehandle 21 to its upper position after the projection 34"has shifted the, pawl 31 free of the segment 3.0,.a'utomatic lock-out meansacting on .'.the pawl are provided. .Ashere shown, a: lock-out dog 35 is".freelyxjournaledson.thelshaft25 andiormed.

with a ramp-like edge 35a normally bearing against a stud36 projecting laterally from'the pawl 31. The'dog 35 is biased in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) by suitable means such as a tension spring 38 connected between a cross pin 39 in the support 22 and a stud 40 fixed in the upper end of the dog. The spring 38 thus causes the ramp edge 35ato bear against a stud 36 on the pawl 31, permitting the latter'to rock about its shaft 25a except insofar as it is constrained by its torsion spring 32. Thus, as the projection 34 cams the pawl in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 5), the stud 36 snaps into the cradle edge portion 35b. With the parts so engaged as shown in Fig. 5, the pawl-31 is locked free of the segment and its teeth 30a. With the pawl 31 thus disabled, the handle 21 and its shaft 25 may be rocked counterclockwise until the handle is restored to its first or uppermost position.

Re-engagernent of .the pawl. 31 with the ratchet segment 30- is. effected bynovel means actuated as an incident toreturn of the handle21 to its uppermost-position. .In the present instance, such action is provided by a plunger 41-which-is slidablydisposed through a vertical opening 42 in the lower wall of the support 22 and which is adapted upon upward movement to strikea foot portion-cmtegrally'formed with the dog 35. The'plunger is located to be displaced upwardly by the collar 26 when the latter is raised-with the handle 21. Thus, when the handleis returned to its uppermost position,-the collar 26 shifts the plnngerAl upwardly, and the plunger in turn strikes the foot portion 350 thereby rocking the'dog 35 clockwise against the bias-of the springs 38 and 32 until the stud 36-is1 displaced from the cradle portion 35b and the pawl 1 tooth 31a snaps back into engagement with the ratchet segment 30.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the operation of the preferred illustrated embodiment of the invention will be clear. However, a brief summary of such operation may be helpful. To seal the lid 11 on the can 12, the tool 10 is first positioned as shown in Fig. 1 with-the base 16 resting on the lid. The operator then grasps the ends of the handles 21 and rocks'them downwardly, the links 28 thereby shifting the collar 26 downwardly along the standard 24. The lower links 29 in turn rock the upper ends of the crimping levers 18 outwardly, closing the jaws '20 .to crimp the lid flange. 15 around the can bead 14.

Once this. crimping action has been initiated, engagement of the pawl tooth 31a with the ratchet segment teeth 30a prevents. the.handle.'21 from being moved upwardly, prevents. the jaws 20 from being opened, and prevents the tool 10-from being removed from the can, until the handles have been first moved totheir lowermost position and the jaws fully closed. .Upon attainment of full crimping, the projection 34' strikes the pawl 31 (Fig. 5) and rocks the.latter.xcounterclockwise. .This causesihestud 36to ride up ':the :ramp edge. 35a; rocking the. dog 35; against the bias of the spring 38, until the stud 36 snaps into the cradle; portion'35b. The pawl isthus locked free of the ratchetsegment 30;and the handles 21 may be'returned to the originaluppermost position. As a result of this latter'step,'the collar26 is raised. along the standard 24 andJstrikes the plunger 41,"thusfshifting the dog 35 clockwise. andipermitting thepawl 31.-to:snap into reengagement withthelratchet segment. The tool-isthen ready foruseLin closing another can.

Turning now 'to Figs. 6-8;the second embodiment of theinvention'there illustrated isgenerally-similar to that previously describedzandprovides the same advantageous operation. :slnsofaras the same parts-appear in Figs. 6-8, the same reference. characters employed in connection with Figsl.-S;;are:nsed. ilni-this second embodimentthe. base 16, crimping'leversl8, crimping jaws- 20, standard 24,

. collar 26: and .the upper andlower links 28- and. 29 are fied supportSO having spaced walls 50a, 50b is carried at the upper end of the standard 24 and instead of shafts journaled in such support, a pair of opera-ting handles 51 are directly pivoted on suitable pins 52 inserted through the support. The handles 51 are pivotally connected with the upper ends of the links 28, as before,vbut include on their inner ends an integral ratchet segment having a plurality of ratchet teeth 51a. Referring only to the right handle (since both handles and their operating mechanisms are identical), it will be seen that the handle includes a depending portion 51b which, as will, be explained, serves as a camming projection or cam lobe.

For cooperating with the ratchet teeth 51a and permitting movement of the handle 51 only toward its lower position, a pawl 54 is pivotally mounted on a pin 55 inserted through the support 50, the pawl having a tooth 54a which is urged into engagement with the teeth 51a by a torsion spring (not shown) biasing the pawl 54 in a clockwise direction. A stop pin 55a limits the extent of clockwise movement of the pawl 54.

When the handle 51a has been moved to its second or lowermost position (Fig. 7) the camming lobe or projection 51b strikes an eccentric arm 54b on the lower part of the pawl 54 and rocks the latter counterclockwise to free it of engagement with the ratchet teeth 51a.

For holding the pawl 54 in such disengaged position while the handle 51 is being returned to its first or original position, a lock-out dog 56 is pivotally carried on a pin 58 and biased in a counterclockwise direction by a torsion spring (not shown). The dog 56 includes a lockout arm portion 56a and a release surface 56b integrally formed thereon and disposed on opposite sides of the pivot pin 58. When the handle 51 has been moved partially through its working stroke (as shown by dashed lines in Fig. 6) the lock-out arm 56a slidably bears against the upper surface of the dog 54 and permits the latter to have normal ratcheting engagement with the teeth 51a. However, when the pawl 54 is rocked clockwise by camming action of the lobe 51b, the lock-out arm 56a snaps into engagement with a shoulder 54c formed in the upper edge of the pawl 54 (see Fig. 7). As a result, the pawl is pre vented from returning to engagement with the ratchet teeth 51a and the handle 51 may be raised to its original, uppermost position.

Upon restoration of the handle 51 to its uppermost po sition, a release surface 510 formed integrally on the handle 51 strikes the release surface 56b, rocking the lockout dog clockwise against the force of its biasing spring and lifting the arm 56a free of the shoulder 540. When this occurs the pawl 54 snaps back into engagement with the ratchet teeth 51a and the tool is ready for use in closing the next can.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the operation of the second embodiment is substantially the same as that described in connection with the first embodiment illustrated by Figures 1 through 6. Once closing of the jaws 20 has been initiated by downward movement of the handles 51, the engagement of the pawl tooth 54a with the ratchet teeth 51a prevents raising of the handles, prevents opening of the jaws and prevents removal of the tool. When the closing stroke is completed, however, and jaws 20 have been fully closed around the lid flange 15, the integral projection 51b strikes the arm 54b and rocks the pawl 54 free of the ratchet teeth. At this time, the lock-out arm 54a snaps into engagement with the shoulder 54c, thereby permitting the handle 51 to be returned to its original position. Upon such return of the handle 51, the release surface 510 strikes the dog 56, lifting the arm 56a out of the shoulder 54c and permitting the pawl to reengage the ratchet teeth.

There is thus little danger of a lid being only partially crimped in place on a can. If the seal is incomplete, the tool may not be removed from the can until additional crimping force has been applied. Additionally, this affords convenience for the operator since he need not exert 6 his entire strength inclosin'g each can. He may approxi mate the force required, and, if the tool may be disengaged from the can, he is assured that the lid flange has been fully crimped. On the other hand, if the tool will not disengage from the can, he may apply the additional force required. it v a I claim: 4

1. In a closing tool of'the type having a pair of operating handles each pivoted at one end in a support member, said handles being movable between first and second positions, that improvement comprising, in combination, latch means for each handle including a oneway, ratchet segment movable with the handle, a pawl pivoted on the support member, means biasing said pawl into engagement with said segment to permit swinging of said handle only toward its second position, a projection movable with the handle and operatively disposed to cam said pawl against its biasing means from engagement with said segment when the handle reaches said second position, a lock-out dog pivoted on said support member, means biasing said dog to bear against a portion of said pawl when the latter is engaged with said teeth, said dogbiasing means shifting said dog to lock said pawl free of said segment when the latter is cammed by said projection, and means for shifting said dog against the force of its biasing means when the handle is moved to said first position to thereby permit re-engagement of said pawl with said segment, the handle once moved from its first position being thereby locked from return to the first position until first moved fully to its second position.

2. In a closing tool having jaws adapted to crimp the flange of a lid around the bead of a can, a pair of handles pivoted to be rocked between first and second positions, and means operatively connecting said handles to open and close said jaws when in their first and second positions, respectively, the improvement of means for preventing disengagement of the tool from a can after crimping has been initiated until the jaws have been fully closed, said improvement means comprising, in combination, latch means associated with each handle including a toothed ratchet segment movable with the handle, a pivoted pawl spring-biased into engagement with said segment and operative to prevent movement of said handle toward its first position, a projection movable with said handle to engage said pawl and shift it free of said ratchet only when said jaws are fully closed, a pivotaly mounted lock-out dog spring-biased into engagement with said pawl, cooperative formations on said pawl and dog for causing the latter to hold the former disengaged from said segment as said handle is returned toward its first position, and means operative upon the return of said handle to its first position to shift said dog and thereby permit said pawl to snap back into engagement with said segment.

3. A closing tool for crimping a lid flange around a head on the upper edge of a container wall, said tool comprising, in combination, a base adapted to fit around the inside of said flange, a standard supported by said base, a collar reciprocal on said standard, a pair of operating handles pivoted on said support structure to move between first and second positions and operatively connected to shift said collar along said standard, a plurality of crimpmg levers pivoted to said base and having jaws for crimping the flange between them and said base, link means connecting said levers to said collar for opening and closing said jaws as said handles are moved to said first and second positions, respectively, latch means associated with each handle including a ratchet segment movable with the handle, a pivoted pawl, means rotationally biasing said pawl into one-way locking engagement with said segment to permit movement of said handle only toward said second position, a projection movable with said handle and disposed to retract said pawl from said segment'when said handle reaches its second position, a pivoted lockout dog, means biasing said dog to snap into holdout relation with said pawl when the latter is retracted by said projection; said handle. being thereby rfree fpr,return to said firstposition; and means shiitedby said. collar when saidhandle is returned to. itsfirst po siti o n .;f or rocking said dog to permit re-engagement of said pawl with said ratchet segment.

4. In a closing tool having a pair of operatinghandles pivoted on a support member to be rocked betweenfirst and second positions, the handles being operatively'linked to open and close crimping jaws when rocked toxsaid first and second positions respectively,-latch-means for each handle comprising a series of ratchet teeth formed on the handle, a pawlpivoted on said-support member and having a locking tooth positioned to engage said teeth, spring means for biasing said pawl to etfect' such engagement to thereby prevent movement of said handle toward said first position, a cam lobe onsaid handle located to strike said pawl and shift ;it from-engagement with said teeth when said handle is rocked to said second position, a lock-out dog pivoted on said support member,

resilient ,means biasing said dog to abut said pawl when Referenees Cited in the'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 6,146 1 Corbett Nov. 24, 1874 1,827,544 -.Ro1 lason Oct. 13, 1931 1,951,405 Green Mar. 20, 1934 2,017,495 G rotnes Oct. 15, 1935 2,088,054 Grossman Ju1y'27, 1937 2,209,851 Shera 'July 30, 1940 2,539,906 Higgins Ian. 30,- 1951 2,705,432 1955 La a --r----.--. p 5, 

